I would like to begin by apologizing sincerely for the offending comments that I made. In some cases I made uninformed and glib comments about the political process behind health care reform. I am not an expert on politics and my tone implied that I was, which is wrong. In other cases I simply made insulting and mean comments that are totally uncalled for in any situation. I sincerely apologize both for conjecturing with a tone of expertise and for doing so in such a disparaging fashion. It is never appropriate to try to make oneself seem more important or smarter by demeaning others. I know better. I knew better. I am embarrassed, and I am sorry.

In addition to apologizing for my unacceptable remarks, I would like to clarify
some misconceptions about the content and context of my comments. Let me be very clear: I do not think that the Affordable Care Act was passed in a non-transparent fashion. The issues I raised in my comments, such as redistribution of risk through insurance market reform and the structure of the Cadillac tax, were roundly debated throughout 2009 and early 2010 before the law was passed. Reasonable people can disagree about the merits of these policies, but it is completely clear that these issues were debated thoroughly during the drafting and passage of the ACA.

I also would like to clarify some misperceptions about my January 2012 remarks
concerning the availability of tax credits in states that did not set up their own health
insurance exchanges. The portion of these remarks that has received so much attention lately omits a critical component of the context in which I was speaking. The point I believe I was making was about the possibility that the federal government, for whatever reason, might not create a federal exchange. If that were to occur, and only in that context, then the only way that states could guarantee that their citizens would receive tax credits would be to set up their own exchanges. I have a long-standing and well-documented belief that health care reform legislation in general, and the ACA in particular, must include mechanisms for
residents in all states to obtain tax credits....

I behaved badly, and I will have to live with that, but my own inexcusable arrogance is not a flaw in the Affordable Care Act....

One Democrat I saw seemingly chided Gruber for not being excessively burdened by truthfulness, or words to that effect. That may be taken as the Dems "ripping" Gruber, but the Democrat I saw went on to claim that this was a moment for "redemption."

See, what they're claiming is that Gruber lied previously when he lied about lying. So they're castigating him for that alleged lie (about lying about Obamacare), but are saying he's "redeeming" himself by now saying he was lying before and is now telling the truth when he says Obamacare Is Awesome.

So don't believe these media accounts of Democrats "ripping" Gruber. They are tactically pretending to believe Gruber's new lies, in order to defend Obamacare.

20
It has been satisfying to read some of the quotes of Pubbies ripping Gruber a fresh new asshole. He's going to need it, too, since I'm pretty sure his interrogation by Gowdy must have had him shitting himself way too much for one asshole to handle.

Yes. He's said he was in the oval office with Obama once along with six other policy experts and several other admin officials.

Posted by: no good deed at December 09, 2014 12:35 PM (w3a0Z)

34
Link to NYT article with Gruber/parrot picture. And the parrot's name is Phoebe.

http://tinyurl.com/l8k6rwk

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 09, 2014 12:35 PM (FsuaD)

35
As a lifelong Republican, I support these bi-partisan hearings. But I do not think Mr. Gowdy should've been so rude to an Ivy-League scholar who participated in a bill offering healthcare solutions for folks in need.

I think Mr. Gowdy's posturing for the TV cameras did my Republican party a disservice.

46
6 former CIA chiefs say Senate investigators never spoke with them before releasing report___Wait you think we wanted to get at the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH. Well, you probably could actually, but how on earth would the truth help us?

Patel is an abortionist with a long and particularly horrific history of Medical Board disciplinary actions, malpractice claims, and criminal cases. Nevertheless, financial documents found amid the medical records and waste indicate that Patel owns $39.4 million in real estate. His personal income exceeds $1.4 million annually.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 09, 2014 12:40 PM (ZPrif)

55
He was telling the truth when he said he thought we're all stupid.***Well, the electorate did elect, and re-elect President Precedent.

Of course if you want to pick on just the 52%, "our side" nominated Juan McVain and Mittens Romneycare as his opponents, so there is plenty of idiocy to go around...

Posted by: 18-1 at December 09, 2014 12:40 PM (78TbK)

56
What a sad day for our country. These weasels actually got elected? bought.

There was a character in the old McHale's Navy TV series named Lester Gruber. He was the resident scheming con artist.

Posted by: Edgar Allan Schmoe at December 09, 2014 12:41 PM (tTer3)

58
So he admitted to lying to Congress. That is a felony, 5 years and $5K.

Posted by: Vic at December 09, 2014 12:41 PM (u9gzs)

59Patel is an abortionist with a long and particularly
horrific history of Medical Board disciplinary actions, malpractice
claims, and criminal cases. Nevertheless, financial documents found amid
the medical records and waste indicate that Patel owns $39.4 million in
real estate. His personal income exceeds $1.4 million annually.

Patel is an abortionist with a long and particularly horrific history of Medical Board disciplinary actions, malpractice claims, and criminal cases. Nevertheless, financial documents found amid the medical records and waste indicate that Patel owns $39.4 million in real estate. His personal income exceeds $1.4 million annually.
--------------------

Local crime story. Nothing to see here.

Posted by: junior at December 09, 2014 12:42 PM (UWFpX)

6864
I can't wait until Trey Gowdy is sworn in as Attorney General in 771 days

77
some of the more erudite among you may be familiar with that cinematic masterpiece The Spaongebob Squarepants Movie. It features a song Goofy Goober Rock. Now we're getting the updated version, the Goofy Gruber Rock.

No, he's an economist he understands incentives, so he understands why the law was crafted as it was.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) And father to be in 4 (short) weeks! at December 09, 2014 12:44 PM (HDwDg)

79
Just to mix stories on a shitty day, too bad the CIA doesn't take Gruber up in a Huey to ask him to finally tell the Truth-Truth about Obamacare.

Ohhh, was that mean?

Posted by: Sharkman at December 09, 2014 12:44 PM (yQmi4)

80
LifeNews played a little tricksy with that headline. He's being arrested for financial crimes. He's previously been accused of raping patients -- but I guess that never went anywhere since he was still an abortion doc. He's not being arrested for rape, though.

94
Wait, I'm getting confused. Can we keep the lefty rape and lefty abortion stories away from the lefty treason and the lefty crony capitalism and lefty hates democracy stories? Its all so overwhelming.

I think I've read before that "not preparing" is actually a strategy. It allows you to say "I don't know" a lot.

Meanwhile, we've got a fucking waiter on the panel because he got him some Obamacare and loves it. (He also claim's he's not getting subsidies which I think, given the rest of his story, is an outright lie.)

Ever noticed how that works for the dems? They find someone who was too poor for insurance. And suddenly Obamacare is passed. And even though we know it raised prices, these people magically pay less.

And always without subsidies. Even though the income level they describe should allow them such.

Plus guys a fucking moron. If he's not getting subsidies, he needs to run his insurance costs through his "consulting" company so he can get the tax break.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) And father to be in 4 (short) weeks! at December 09, 2014 12:49 PM (HDwDg)

113
Teh Grub should be reminded that the IRS won't always be pissing on conservatives.

Posted by: model_1066 at December 09, 2014 12:50 PM (iqA+6)

114
I was also gangbanged by the House Republicans that December, breaking a glass table and requiring me to buy a new dress.

Posted by: gruber at December 09, 2014 12:50 PM (2ZvEW)

115
I've got a hint for Gruber, talking real fast doesn't mean you're smart, it means you should have been an auctioneer.

Posted by: wth at December 09, 2014 12:50 PM (wAQA5)

116Wait, I'm getting confused. Can we keep the lefty
rape and lefty abortion stories away from the lefty treason and the
lefty crony capitalism and lefty hates democracy stories? Its all so
overwhelming.

119
John Schindler @20committee
In dozens of countries, there are emergency hi-level mtgs going on NOW examining what they've been stupid enough to share w/Americans. Nice.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at December 09, 2014 12:50 PM (ZPrif)

120Teh Grub should be reminded that the IRS won't always be pissing on conservatives.

Posted by: model_1066 at December 09, 2014 12:50 PM (iqA+6)

It's so cute that some folks think that the IRS would actually obey a Republican administration.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 09, 2014 12:51 PM (TIIx5)

121
Mike Gonzalez @Gundisalvus RT @marykissel: BREAKING: 6 former CIA chiefs say Senate investigators never spoke with them before releasing report http://t.co/DwjgsXsI0P - Well of course not. That's not how a lynch mob works. that's not how any of this works.
Posted by: The Great White Snark

I'm learning that.

Posted by: Barry at Oberlin at December 09, 2014 12:51 PM (Spluw)

122
I do believe our elitist betters are sniveling cowards when you get right down to it.

He needs a goat strapped to his naked back and air-dropped into the Hindu Kush. On PPV.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 09, 2014 12:51 PM (FsuaD)

123
It's so cute that some folks think that the IRS would actually obey a Republican administration.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 09, 2014 12:51 PM (TIIx5)

Patel is an abortionist with a long and particularly horrific
history of Medical Board disciplinary actions, malpractice claims, and
criminal cases. Nevertheless, financial documents found amid the medical
records and waste indicate that Patel owns $39.4 million in real
estate. His personal income exceeds $1.4 million annually.

146
I think I've read before that "not preparing" is actually a strategy. It allows you to say "I don't know" a lot.
Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) And father to be in 4 (short) weeks! at December 09, 2014 12:49 PM (HDwDg)

Didn't Hillary Clinton perfect that strategy during the Whitewater hearings?

183
>>Planned Parenthood came out with a "Black Lives Count" statement. The hypocrisy. It hurts.

In this case, it really does. It's ghoulish. They make money off of killing black babies.

Posted by: Lizzy at December 09, 2014 01:02 PM (ABcz/)

184
Hold Gruber in contempt, have the Sergeant of the Guard arrest him, take him to jail and tell him in two weeks we will meet again and he should be willing to cooperate or we will do it again, and again until he grows old.

Don't you know? It appeared in a puff of magical smoke on Obammy's desk. Written in flaming runes in the air above the tome were the words: ALL WHO READ OF ME SHALL DESPAIR.So the Dems passed it without reading it, because fuck despair, right?

Heh. Years ago, I was deposing a hostile witness over the span of an entire day, and just once he said: "To be honest . . . " as he prefaced the answer to my question.So I immediately said: "Does the fact that you just prefaced this one answer with 'To be honest' mean that all the rest of your answers today have been false?"His attorney almost launched himself across the table at me. It was glorious.

Posted by: Sharkman at December 09, 2014 01:08 PM (tRftc)

215Ah. So no country in existence except maybe Israel? Remember, these were the same countries that were feting Obama as being the second coming of Christ.Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit Vaginassassin, aka Beth at December 09, 2014 01:05 PM (4df7R)

Shockingly, you're probably right. If I were running a government, I'd watch developments in American politics for just this sort of thing, and as soon as some shitstain like Obongo was nominated, convene meetings on what, if anything, we should be doing NOW to minimize our exposure in case said shitstain got elected.

219We got somethin' we both knowWe don't talk too much about itAin't no real big secret all the sameSomehow we get around itListen, it don't really matter to me babyYou believe what you want to believe...

Call his bluff. Send him home to "prepare". Then recall him.
Posted by: Y-not on the phone at December 09, 2014 01:06 PM (9BRsg)

So what happens when you lie to Congress? Let's see, you keep your appointed job(Holder), you survive an impeachment and become a wildly popular president who simply pardons all your buds on the way out(Clinton),you are praised as a fabulous secretary of state and are a front runner for the Democrat presidential candidate(Hillary).

Don't see a down side to Gruber's testimony at all.

Posted by: Jen the original at December 09, 2014 01:10 PM (oOlEN)

225
OT, but it appears Cam Newton, QB of the Panthers, has been badly injured in a car accident. According to reports, both of his legs were "visibly broken."

I don't know if they did it immediately after he was elected but I can see them having done it not long after he and Ben's first meet.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at December 09, 2014 01:11 PM (LA7Cm)

230
I know longer look at Gruber and see a parrot on his shoulder. I'm seeing a vulture.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 09, 2014 01:11 PM (FsuaD)

231
Reports that Can Newton was seriously injured in a care crash in Charlotte. Seems like a legit story, he was transported to the hospital at 12:50 this afternoon. No word on extent, but there was an overturned car at the accident scene.

Posted by: Lincolntf at December 09, 2014 01:11 PM (2cS/G)

232
The good thing about a liar is that, under oath, they will always tell you the truth.

I don't know if they did it immediately after he was elected but I can see them having done it not long after he and Ben's first meet.Posted by: Ricardo Kill at December 09, 2014 01:11 PM (LA7Cm)

I do think that that would be rather late in the day. I'd be thinking in 2007 about what we should tell the U.S. that might be awkward if Obongo got elected in 2008, and took office in 2009. The time to make that calculation was as soon as Obongo was nominated, just in case.

Hell, I'd be looking at the primaries to see if we likely had a nascent problem. It's important, per Gretzky, to skate where the puck is going to be, not where it is now.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at December 09, 2014 01:15 PM (oKE6c)

259
Gee, I bet the IRS knows how much Gruber earned. Shame it's illegal for them to share that info, huh?

Posted by: Lizzy at December 09, 2014 01:15 PM (ABcz/)

260CMPD source says no injuries to Cam Newton.He didn't want to be transported. Taken to hospital as precaution.

Gruber supports abortion, such as is performed by patient rapist Dr. Patel, to lower crime, but will not talk about his real role in Obamacare until he is waterboarded.

Posted by: @votermom at December 09, 2014 01:18 PM (cbfNE)

284
"...I have to admit, Mr. Chairman, that I am an expert in micro-economic modelling of micro-agressive churning of the clearly stupid American consumer of health insurance. To that end I regret my inopportune comments about said stupid Americans, and I would hope that the aformentioned stupid Americans would accept my statement of incincere but clearly true conjecture..."

302
Who cares if Gruber was "speculating." His statements reflected his belief. His state of mind. What lawyers call his "mens rea." He has repeatedly said he wasn't lying. That is all that matters. Who cares if he was correct or not?

315
Democrats who confess their sins can be redeemed and rehabilitated, but republicans who confess their guilt simply confirm their evil intentions and confirm the need for society to shun and isolate those dastardly dangerous republicans from society to protect society from the self confessed unapologetic irredeemable terribly bad republicans who must spend the rest of their lives in the wilderness of obscurity like Nixon did.

319
It's great that Howdy ripped him apart but so what? Is he going to be held accountable? Was Lerner, Koksukin, Sebelius, or My People held accountable? These Congressional testimonies are good for show but until and unless someone is held accountable, a show is all it is.

334
I wonder if some of the CIA spooks have dear old friends in the Mossad or KGB that have some, uh, compromising photos and the like of the traitorous 'rats that might end up in the innerwebs' social media thingy. Or that of Preezy Cakeboy at Man Country in Chicago. That would be a hoot. Talk about an elephant in the room for cBS/NBC/PMSNBC et al.

Posted by: eureka! at December 09, 2014 01:27 PM (3F0SN)

335
I expected a stampede for the baklava, at least from HR and AtC. Is Cam Newton good-looking, or something?

347
I expected a stampede for the baklava, at least from HR and AtC. Is Cam Newton good-looking, or something?
Posted by: LadyS at December 09, 2014 01:27 PM (5dip***********
Cam is a relatively good looking young dude and a talented self promoting quarterback. I used to make Baklava in another life. Long and intensive process. I learned to hate it because I ate so much of it.

The nasty words I want to say about this law and this man would be too extensive to put here.

I will say this however, I just dropped to the lowest bronze coverage possible due to the f'ing outrageous cost for less coverage than before this fucking law. And it is a gamble for my family, and gamblers are generally losers, but that's what I have to do.

So the law's design to force us all in to less health care is working as designed. We will all soon enough be in the Canadian or British system designed for employment instead of healthcare.

I guess you missed my comment up-thread about the peppermint blondies with peppermint ganache I'm going to make for Christmas. Recipe came in a Kroger flyer.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 09, 2014 01:30 PM (FsuaD)

356From NY Times 2012...his home in Lexington, Mass. There he crunches numbers and advises other states on health care, in between head banging at Van Halen concerts with his 15-year-old son and cuddling with the family's eight parrots. (His wife Andrea, volunteers at a bird rescue center.)....................American voters are stupid! Squawk!American voters are stupid! Squawk!

Posted by: Gruber's parrot at December 09, 2014 01:30 PM (wAQA5)

357
>> wonder if some of the CIA spooks have dear old friends in the Mossad or
KGB that have some, uh, compromising photos and the like of the
traitorous 'rats that might end up in the innerwebs' social media
thingy.

Yeah, the same CIA that was all about leaking stuff when Bush was president in order to make him look bad. Then they get president boyfriend and he stabs them in the back almost immediately with Holder prosecuting CIA interrogators. It makes no sense.

Posted by: Lizzy at December 09, 2014 01:31 PM (ABcz/)

358
I read where some people are training birds of prey to take out MILITARIZED THUG COP/GOOGLEESQUE SMALL DRONES.

Mother fucker seemed pretty damned sure of what he was saying as its pretty well established that he is insider número uno.

Posted by: Kreplach at December 09, 2014 01:36 PM (Oc3Dj)

374I love Issa, and voted for him. He's doing yeoman's work. He doesn't have much power outside of holding hearings, but he's doing what he can, and doesn't use weasel words.Posted by: Jay Guevara at December 09, 2014 01:30 PM (oKE6c)GOPcommittee term limits means he has to give up this chairmanship. I also read where he doesn't do much campaigning at home.Hasn't bought a yard sign since his first campaign. He's either incredibly popular orincredibly good at gerrymandering.

380GOPcommittee term limits means he has to give up
this chairmanship. I also read where he doesn't do much campaigning at
home.Hasn't bought a yard sign since his first campaign. He's either
incredibly popular orincredibly good at gerrymandering.

Posted by: CJ at December 09, 2014 01:37 PM (9KqcB)

He's very popular. This is a conservative area, although it's gradually becoming infested with liberals fleeing the beds they've crapped elsewhere.Congressional districts are determined by a "non-partisan" committee that the Reds packed with ... undercover sympathizers. Kinda the way they swung party caucuses to Obongo in 2008.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at December 09, 2014 01:42 PM (oKE6c)

381I bet swaggering his way out with $100 bills sticking out of his pockets. Suckah's!

389Gruber's overarching point about selling Obamacare is true: many if not most Americans are willfully, woefullyuninformed even when it comes to policies, programs,and legislation that directly affect their own lives, and it would be politically foolhardy not to exploit that ignorance.

It is my personal, tinfoil hat belief that our our public schoolsystems deliberately create students unable to reason or discern truth from falsehood.

390Presumably the videos were shot before an audience that wanted to hear just how awesome Obamacare would be, so why would he need to lie to those attending about how it was passed? Or about how awesome the legislation would be? Seeing how most people's insurance rates are climbing and we are beginning to see what a giant turd the legislation turned out to be, it stands to reason that he was being truthful in the videos and is lying now.

Posted by: Darth Randall at December 09, 2014 02:46 PM (6n332)

391
In other news SMOD may finally had enough: http://tinyurl.com/kw5rf3w

Posted by: bill-o at December 09, 2014 02:47 PM (ysSRI)

392
Couldn't the Committee use the IRS to look into Gruber's tax returns to see how much he made? Or is that only permitted against conservatives?

395
I just wish, that one time, ONE TIME, someone on the committiee (are you listening, Trey Gowdy?) would say, "Mr. Gruber, you are a lying piece of shit." Then walk down to the table, and kick his ass.

Posted by: CharlesT at December 09, 2014 07:59 PM (YZpSo)

396
Defending obolacare the main thing? Au contraire. THE ONLY THING..........

Posted by: bart simpsonson at December 10, 2014 11:16 PM (xeW8C)

397
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